Inconsistent vaccine policies undermine public trust

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong speaks during a forum hosted by the Kwankun Club in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

Amid mounting concerns over a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine, the government's ill-advised handling of its already-delayed rollout plan is angering the people who are anxious about recent infection surges.

Different government departments and officials are making inconsistent comments about vaccine procurement, making people losing trust in the administration's policies.

Since the country began its vaccination campaign, Feb. 26, a mere 3.41 percent of its 52 million population have received shots although the government boasted of having secured enough vaccines to inoculate 79 million people

In the wake of the vaccine procurement woes, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong unexpectedly disclosed Tuesday that Korea was in discussions with the United States about forging a swap deal.

“Vaccine cooperation between the two countries is taking place in a multilayered manner through various levels,” Chung told lawmakers during a National Assembly session, adding that the government was planning to send a special envoy to procure vaccines.

According to the plan, Washington would give Seoul vaccines from its stockpile that would be paid back later, he said.

However, it took less than a day for Chung to take a step back from the “vaccine swap,” saying it was unpredictable.

“We are in serious negotiations with the U.S., but it explained to us that its domestic coronavirus conditions are still tough,” Chung told a forum in Seoul, hosted by the Kwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists, Wednesday.

“It is not easy to foresee the outcome of the negotiations, but the U.S. is sticking to its plan of creating herd immunity by the end of the summer.”

Also on Wednesday, the health authorities said there was nothing to explain about a possible swap deal yet.

“We are making multilateral efforts to get vaccines, but we cannot make the consultations public and we are in the early stages of discussions,” Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said during a briefing, adding the authorities will make an announcement when there is any progress.

In response to Chung's remarks, the U.S. State Department declined to comment on the issue, with an official saying the U.S. government was not going to comment on the details of “private” diplomatic dialogue, according to Yonhap News.

Observers say Chung hastily announced the swap plan although nothing had been confirmed, as criticism was mounting over the government's failure to secure enough vaccines.

Late last year, Cheong Wa Dae announced that U.S. biotech company Moderna had agreed to supply 20 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Korea in the second quarter of 2021 following a video conference between President Moon Jae-in and its CEO Stephane Bancel.

However, acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said, Tuesday, the Moderna vaccines will arrive here in the third quarter, raising concerns that the nationwide inoculation plan may be delayed, which in turn may put the goal of creating herd immunity by November in jeopardy.

In spite of concerns over the vaccine shortages, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is still confident of reaching herd immunity without a hitch. The government is seeking to immunize 12 million people in the first half of the year and 36 million by September.

However, it has failed to elaborate on how it will make up for the delayed supply.

Amid growing public distrust, Hong asked the public to have faith in the government's overall COVID-19 response.

“We ask that each individual remain alert and attentive in the current situation but also to have faith in our test and medical capabilities, and trust our vaccine administration plan,” he said during a daily interagency meeting on the coronavirus response.

Rep. Joo Ho-young, an acting chairman of the main opposition People Power Party, slammed the government's vaccine policy as haphazard and opaque.

“The game changer to the COVID-19 pandemic is obviously a quality vaccine,” Joo said. “The people are badly waiting for such a vaccine, but the President and the government are inconsistent with their vaccine policy, bringing public distrust upon themselves.”